COMPULSORY SERVICE.

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1916, Page 4

COMPULSORY SERVICE.

STIMCT OBEDIENCE

Tilt: Catholic dictum

The following oflicial statement has been issued by the New Zealand Catholic Federation: —''The federation has learned with deep rt'grct that a rumour or report hits been circulated, chiefly i.h»> t'nniiig population of the West Coast, tiiat tiie fedehftiou is opposed to tlie principle of conscription, and is lending its support to the A'utiConscription movement. The general secretary of the federation is authorised to on authoritative denial of this unfounded rumour. Conscription is a mutter completely outside the functions or jurisdiction of the federation, it is the law of this land, and the members of the Catholic Federation, as law-abiding subjects, will loyally conform to tin , legislation passed by Parliament. The controlling council of the federation would not tolerate, on the part Of its branches or members, any action which might be construed as disloyal to the Empire To quote the words of the. Constitution, the aims of the federation arc rehyious and patriotic; ; "When it was proposed to take a referendum in the Australian Commonwealth as to whether conscription should beedine lav/, the Hierarchy of the country issued a pronouncement that the vote to be cast by Catholics was one of individual conscience, and no direction was issued as to united action. In New Zealand the. position is altogether dissimilar, and the Church enjoins upon its members strict obedience to the existing law of the land in which they live."